AIFW BLOG

Joline Jolink

Fashion designer Joline Jolink is best known for her feminine, comfortable and versatile designs. Her collections evolve in a fluid manner and are always inspired by a woman comparable to her wearers; ‘a woman with something to do’.

17th century painter and entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian was the muse for ‘Metamorphosis’, Joline’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Unlike most women of her time, Maria divorced her husband and set off to travel the world, devoting her life to her fascination for butterflies and the metamorphosis that they undergo.

Joline translated Maria’s intricately painted artworks into beautifully draped designs in a subtle ‘moth-like’ palette of browns, greys and matt lilac. Not unlike cocoons, her clothing allows for the daily metamorphoses that women undergo.

For more information and to purchase your own Joline Jolink design visit www.jolinejolink.com Don't forget to subscribe for the newsletter to be notified when her Autumn/Winter collection goes on sale.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY AHMET POLAT

Cold Method

Mark Ainsworth and Alex Jansen launched Cold Method in 2005. Best known for their 9 signature aesthetics of menswear, the brand aims to form the ‘basis of a man’s wardrobe’.

Mark: “Although the concept could easily be applied to women’s wear, men are more in need of a set of guidelines which they can follow.”

Cold Method is sold internationally and has over 700 retail outlets in 14 countries. Although the company somehow hasn’t got its own store in Holland, I feel that something might be on its way, as when questioned, Mark answered: “All I can say is watch this space!”

Subtle, smart, clean and casual; Cold Method aim to make men look discreetly well dressed. The brand’s muted colour palette, immaculate tailoring and British elegance is delivered in a masculine ‘tough’ package. Examples of which are sharp denim suits, skinny eighties ties, crisp shirts and snugly fit knits.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY AHMET POLAT

LaLaLa by INDIVIDUALS

By claesenpool - This season the young creatives of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute showed us a very feminine, fragile and romantic collection. The dark eyes and wet hair gave the show a raw edge. Although the models showed some skin, the designers managed to keep it feminine and classy. INDIVIDUALS used soft materials in colours as eggshell, clay and skin. They took their material-use to the next level by using yarn buttons, patched lace, loosely knitted fur and even cut up ice skates. There was a good balance between ready-to-wear pieces and couture pieces which kept the show exciting.

 

 

 

For more info go to the website of INDIVIDUALS

Your reporters, claesenpool

Soiree part 2 - Ilja Visser group

By claesenpool - The Ilja Visser group presented her three brands in the second part of the Fortis bank Opening Soiree, Valizz, Ready to Fish and Ilja. Surprisingly the show was kicked of with a really nice introduction movie which showed Three brands. One women. One vision. The three collections all aimed at different target-groups en market-segments showed the typical Ilja Visser Signature. Low crotch pants, feminine, loose shapes made from almost liquid materials.

 

VALIZZ

Ready to Fish

Construction workers enlarged the shows theme - Building construction

Ilja

The amount of models on the catwalk during the finale really showed how big the Ilja Visser group became since she first showed at the Amsterdam International Fashion week. Ilja Visser became an true entrepreneur in fashion. 

Your reporters, claesenpool

Badgley Mischka

  

Mark Badgley and James Mischka belong to the top ten fashion designers in America. For over 20 years they have sent glamorous yet understated designs into the fashion world. Recognised for their elegant eveningwear, Amsterdam wasn’t the most obvious choice for the presentation of their summer collection; Cruise 2010. After all, even Holland’s celebrities and fashion icons grace Fashion Week by bicycle!

When asked about his perception of Dutch women Mark Badgley told me that he found us to be youthful, practical, active yet chique types. Mark: “In this city it seems you have to be!”

While street-fashion photographer The Sartorialist didn’t find anyone in our capital worth photographing, Badgley Mischka feel that even Dutch glamour is alive; Mark Badgley: “There are all kinds of glamour, city glamour, country glamour; all kinds of women can be glamorous!”

The showcase started with the presentation of Mark & James; the designers’ first contemporary collection that is filled with edgier flapper-inspired dresses in predominantly black and metallics. In true Badgley Mischka style, Mark & James designs are adorned in sequins and feature sheer materials and chain-detailing.

Mark: “Mark & James is an affordable and young collection, I’m sure that you could even bike with the shorter dresses!”

And with Badgley Mischka’s total collection of swimwear, accessories and gorgeous sunglasses, even us Dutch can fit a bit of the duo’s signature 40’s glamour into our lives.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY LAPEET

Your cup of T

Black with milk and sugar, green with honey, white with ginger or even mint tea with lemon; everyone has their own ‘cup of tea’ (or giant mug of coffee when we’re talking fashion week!). Amsterdam sisters Petra and Gitte studied people’s varying preferences to a ‘T’ and launched their own t-shirt store: ‘Your cup of T’ in 2003.

What started out as a business idea in a cramped attic has become a successful ‘customizing brand shop’ on the trendy Westerstraat in Amsterdam (also home to American Apparel and Moooi design). Almost as difficult as choosing from a Cadbury's selection box, the girls offer a never-ending array of options; from colours galore, rhinestones and (faux) snakeskin to sweatshirts, tees, jumpsuits and caps; you can basically walk out of the 'candy shop', with whatever you want.

And for those with less time or creativity to make their own cuppa’s, there’s always the fun and fruity collections such as most recently ‘Why did I eat the hole thing?’ (featuring supersize burgers and shakes).

Specially for AIFW Downtown, ‘Your cup of T’ has reduced prices on all of its articles and DIY workshops in-store.

 

Check out: www.yourcupoft.com for more details.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY LAPEET

I am Blue

Luxury denim brand BlueBlood is taking over Amsterdam, and not unnoticeably; this afternoon the denim brand revealed the characteristic supersized ‘iamsterdam’ letters, of which 'i am' had been denim-wrapped.

Funny fact: the dedicated students who ‘took over Amsterdam’ were from the Utrecht School of the Arts!

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY LAPEET

Soire - part 1 From designer to entrepreneur

By claesenpool - We didn't know what to expect of this evening with special combinations, "Fortis bank Nederland" and fashion for a start, but also End by MEXX.

 

 

Surprising to start the evening with a mens collection. Beautifull colourtones crossing the catwalk. Simple figures combined with soft grey tone with details of a deep salmon red. Balancing between male and female.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The little Elsien really blowed us away with her spacey-ish shape, fine materials, edgy shoulder lines and beautifull models. The big applause was more then deserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At last the unexpected combination of the designers Eva and Delia and highstreet fashionbrand MEXX. The girls managed to customize old collections from MEXX in their own signiture style. The models, partly with clown make-up posed at the end of the catwalk on symmetrical shapes which were reflected in the garments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your reporters - claesenpool

Foam_fashion blog

 

‘A fashion that does not hit the streets, is not a fashion’

CHANEL

By claesenpool - Tuesday night the 21st of July, an evening were we saw the term ‘real’ fashion come to life, an evening where two woman with totally different approaches to fashion but both extremely engaged with the term fashion inspired a intimate group of fanatic fashion people with their experiences. With a medium that they say is the future! BLOGS!

 

‘Blogs will take over the fashion glossies’, are the exact words of Anneke Beerkens. ‘A blog shows realness, can react immediately on what we see on the streets and makes ordinary people feel special’. This post modern search to identity doesn’t picture the world perfect but is able to show a way that the streets really looks like, so no anorexia girls ore photo shopped hansom guys, but people of the street whit their unique way of presenting them selves. 

 

The made up
Although its sounds so spontaneous, the snapparazzi (that’s how the photographers are cold) more and more put a sudden picture in to a set and take their whole studio on the street! Also famous, romantic and sensible blogger Garance Dore doesn’t takes pictures so easily. She is very precise and takes picture of girls she thinks look beautiful, girls she can relate to. Garance never leaves the house without her camera; although she spots girls on the street she always puts them in a better light ore background.

 

3 tips of Garence her self

-   Always smile to the people you want to take a picture from.

-   Look nice yourself.

-   Make sure you can make the people you take pictures of feel confident!

 

The pictures are stunning as we can say for more information of Garance Dore check out her blog: http://www.garancedore.fr.

 

Your reporters - claesenpool

Turn your frown upside down

As one of world’s 100 most innovative designers and ‘Holland’s most promising designer’ (WGSN.COM & i-D magazine), Antoine Peters is hardly a joke in Dutch (let’s say World) fashion. Yet when his models walked down the Moooi* catwalk, wearing peachy sequined clown’s noses, you couldn’t help but smile.

Antoine is notorious for his playful and humorous take on fashion. In his own words: “I am an optimist and think of fashion as a party. It should make you feel good about yourself. I do so with humour.”

His collection ‘Turn your frown upside down’ is inspired from his own logo, which in the shape of a smile, is featured in all of his garments. As expected from the designer, this collection contains abundant prints, extraordinary shapes and an explosion of colour.

Wanting to keep matters in his own hands, Antoine has opted for an off schedule show in the magnificent Moooi design store.  Antoine: “I felt an immediate connection with Moooi and Marcel Wanders (Designer & Moooi Art Director) as we share a similar philosophy; we both believe in the added value of design, have a positive attitude and a fascination with silhouettes.”

Antoine aspires to reach an international market with his work, and with each collection (and presentation) surpassing even the highest expectations made, I’m afraid it won’t be long before yet another amazing Dutch talent is kidnapped by international fashion.

*Mooi is Dutch for beautiful > Moooi = Beauutiful!

 

Whose frown couldn’t be turned upside down?

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY AHMET POLAT